My travel choices in 2024 (part 4)
Exploring Belgium and London
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Although I don’t consider myself an extremely active traveler, every year I try to fill my calendar with as much travel as possible, and 2024 was an exciting one. It was full of new sights and ticking off bucket-list sites, of solo, coupled and group unforgettable adventures. I’ve become a pro at squeezing travel into weekends and holidays.
I have to say that travel for me is not about counting cities and countries – it’s about learning, growing, and connecting with the world in a way that keeps my curiosity alive.
Here’s a look at how my 2024 unrolled and how each trip brought its own unique story and lessons, reminding me why I love exploring Europe and, my home, Croatia.
I had to split this post into 4 parts because when I started adding photos, I realized my plan wasn’t sustainable. Read more:
My two couples’ trips abroad
As I said in the previous part (3), I can take a week or more off only during summer, due to my work. And over the year, I try to spend at least one week abroad with my significant other. Since he doesn’t really like traveling abroad anymore, but he loves sports, I first ‘lured’ him into a road trip through Belgium and seeing 2 Olympic Games matches in Lille, France, and then for a weekend in London in November, a Premier League football game included. I believe in compromises :)
Of course, I don’t get to explore those sites as I would do solo, but I can always go back for a culture fix.
1) Belgium in August
This was my first trip to Belgium and since we rented a car, we managed to visit many sites. What can I say about the experience in general? We ate really well and the prices were reasonable, highways were free and easy to navigate, and the people were very nice and friendly.
Bruges
Bruges, often called the “Venice of the North," is a charming city in Belgium famous for its medieval architecture, winding canals, and timeless beauty. It was a thriving commercial hub in the Middle Ages, and its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site today.
With its enchanting canals, world-class chocolate shops, and cozy atmosphere, Bruges offers a perfect blend of history, charm, and romance.
Ghent
This city blew my mind! It impressed me more than Bruges, probably because it had fewer tourists, lower prices, better canal rides and the Graslei quay.
The Ghent Altarpiece is an absolute masterpiece, and you can read more about it here. St Bavo’s Cathedral is home to a Rubens as well.
Jean Neuhaus, a Belgian chocolatier, is generally credited for the introduction of praline chocolates in 1912, although they were probably made since the 19th century. In the rest of Europe, “praline” may also refer to a hazelnut or almond filling, while Belgian praline fillings include nuts, marzipan, salted caramel, coffee, a spirit, cream liqueur, cherry etc.
Do you prefer Bruges or Ghent?
Kortrijk & Ypres
The first photo on the left depicts the Ypres Cloth Hall, a magnificent medieval building that once served as a major center for the cloth trade.
Another remarkable site in Ypres is the Menin Gate, a war memorial dedicated to British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in WW1 and have no known graves. Its Last Post ceremony has been held there every single day at 8 pm since 1927, as a powerful symbol of remembrance. Every. Single. Day. More about it here:
Antwerp
I had no expectations about Antwerp, and it amazed me! I’m sorry we didn’t spend more days in it 😔 The city is a major port city in Belgium known for its rich history, art scene, and role as a global diamond trading hub.
Brussels
What can I say — the capital of Belgium, and the de facto capital of the European Union.
I have to say I wasn’t impressed by most of the city, but it is a place to visit because it has a rich cultural heritage and a popular art scene.
Did you know Smurfs were Belgian?
War Memorial Sites
My husband is a history buff so we visited many original sites and museums, and I will mention only the most interesting ones.
I’ve covered many WW1 memorial sites in this post:
If you haven’t, read it because you will learn about the terrors of the Passchendaele Battle of 1917.
We also visited the Yser Tower, but now I see I’ve lost the photos somehow. It’s in Diksmuide and commemorates Belgian soldiers who died during World War I. The site includes a museum highlighting the war's impact and the Flemish movement, offering panoramic views from the tower.
Dunkirk is not in Belgium, but in France, however, it was close so we stopped by.
35km from Brussels you can visit the Waterloo Battle site. The Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo is a large circular painting of the 1815 battle, a 360-degree immersive experience of the historic event. Nearby, Lion’s Mound is a monumental hill with a statue of a lion at the top, commemorating the Allied victory and the soldiers who fought at Waterloo.
Besides visiting war sites, we visited sites like the Strépy-Thieu Boat Lift — it’s one of the world's largest boat lifts, enabling vessels to bypass a 73-meter height difference along the Canal du Centre. You can read about it here:
And the Olympic Games, yes! We saw two games in Lille, France:
2) London, November
In November, we went for a romantic weekend in London, and I wrote about it here:
So, this is the final part and the end of my 4-part overview of 2024 travel choices. I think it was very successful, and I hope 2025 will be as successful!
What lessons have I learned from my 2024 travels?
Last year was filled with incredible moments, but it also taught me some valuable lessons that I’m carrying into 2025:
Go slower: I’ve learned that less is often more when it comes to travel. Spending more time in fewer destinations allows for deeper connections and less stress.
Prioritize experiences: Some of my favorite memories were from spontaneous activities, like taking a boat ride or hiking to an unplanned viewpoint.
Be flexible: 2024 reminded me that even the best plans can go awry. Flexibility often leads to unexpected adventures that are just as memorable.
If you’ve missed the first 3 parts, you can access them here:
And one last thing - this publication will stay free forever, but if you feel I deserve a cup of matcha 🍵 here and there, then please buy me some - the next drink’s on me! ☕
MORE INTERESTING SIGHTS:
Wine museum, London, Picasso’s birthplace and so much more…
Plus, my “2025 Calendar: 12 Countries in 12 Months” is a gift for my free subscribers, so go and get your inspiration:
Ghent might be one of my most favorite cities. Of course, I say that about so many. But at night time it takes on a completely different vibe.
This gave me travel fever! Lovely pics!